Bench Seating System

ABSTRACT

A bench seating system includes a plurality of seats, each seat defining a singularly curved seating surface spanning from front to back, the curved seating surface of each adjacent seat alternatingly concave and convex. The seats can be mounted on an elongate support member, supported horizontally by one or more posts. Features of the bench seating system, including the alternating concave and convex seating surfaces, provide aesthetic, anti-skate, comfort, and modular aspects.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to seating, and in particularly, to bench type seating.

SUMMARY

The present invention may comprise one or more of the features recited in the attached claims, and/or one or more of the following features or combinations thereof.

An illustrative embodiment of a seating system, including a plurality of seats, each seat including a contoured seating surface defining a substantially singularly curved plane spanning from front to back, the curved seating surface of each adjacent seat alternatingly concave and convex. The plurality of seats can be oriented end to end along a line such that the concave or convex curve of each seating surface is substantially perpendicular to the line.

The seating system further including an elongate support member, and wherein the plurality of seats are supported by the elongate support member, a plurality of vertical posts supporting the elongate support member. The first seat and the second seat are arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween.

Each of the plurality of seats further including a pair of end plates, the end plates coupled to the elongate support member. The seating system further including a plurality of flanges coupled to the elongate support member, and wherein each end plate is coupled to one of the plurality of flanges. The elongate support including one or more modular members adapted to be coupled end-to-end to provide support for additional ones of the plurality of seats.

The plurality of seats each further including a front edge and a back edge, and wherein a contoured sheet defines the front edge, back edge, and contoured seating surface. At least one of the front edge and back edge defining a single curved convex surface. The bottom edge of the end plate defining a straight line. The bottom edge of the end plates defining a convex curve matching that of the contoured seating surface.

Another illustrative embodiment of the seating system, includes an elongate support, a first seat coupled to the elongate support, the first seat defining a substantially concave upper surface, the curve defining the concave upper surface substantially perpendicular to the elongate support, and a second seat coupled to the elongate support adjacent the first seat, the second seat defining a substantially convex upper surface, the curve defining the convex upper surface along an axis substantially perpendicular to the elongate support. The first seat and the second seat arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween.

The first seat and second seat each further including a curved front edge to a curved rear edge, and each upper surface spanning from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge. The first seat further including a substantially convex lower surface spanning from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge. The second seat further comprises a substantially planar lower surface spanning from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge. A contoured sheet defines the front edge, back edge, and contoured seating surface. Each of the first and second seat further including a pair of end plates, the end plates coupled to the elongate support.

The seating system further including a plurality of flanges coupled to the elongate support, and each end plate is coupled to one of the plurality of flanges. The elongate support includes one or more modular members adapted to be coupled end-to-end to provide support for additional seats.

Yet another illustrative embodiment of a seating system, includes an elongate support, a first seat coupled to the elongate support, the first seat defining an upper surface having a first median height above the elongate support, and a second seat coupled to the elongate support adjacent the first seat, the second seat defining an upper surface having a second median height above the elongate support, and wherein the first median height is greater than the second median height thereby providing an anti-skate feature. The first seat and the second seat are arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween.

Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front-right perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a bench seating system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bench seating system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the bench seating system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective sectional view of the bench seating system of FIG. 1 taken along the plane shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view, from a front-right perspective, of the bench seating system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the bench seating system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the bench seating system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principals of the invention, reference will now be made to one or more illustrative embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.

Referring to FIG. 1, an illustrative embodiment of a bench seating system 20 includes seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b, elongate support members 26 a-b, and posts 28 a-c. The seats 22 a-c have a curved seat surface 32 that defines a convex plane along a curve 33 (FIG. 5) that is perpendicular or about perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 36 of the elongate support members 26 a-b. The seats 24 a-b have a curved seat surface 34 that defines a concave plane along a curve 35 (FIG. 5) that is perpendicular or about perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 36. The seating surfaces 32 and 34 are curved along the single curve 33 and 35, respectively, however, other contours may also be defined by seating surfaces 32 and 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the illustrative embodiment of the bench seating system 20, the seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b can be mounted on and aligned along the support members 26 a-b such that the seating surfaces 32 and 34 alternate between convex and concave curved planes. As shown in FIG. 2, the seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b can also be arranged to provide spaces 40 between the seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b. These features contributes to provide anti-skate, aesthetic, and comfort features of the bench system 20. For example, the variations between adjacent seats 22 a and 24 a provide a change in the median height 42 and 44, respectively, of the seating surfaces 32 and 34 above the support members 26 a-b that prevent skating down the length of the seating system 20. The spaces 40 between seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b also contribute to the anti-skate feature. Additionally, the variations of seating surfaces 32 and 34 provide different seating characteristics that may be desirable for different people. The variations also provide a visually aesthetic feature. However, other embodiments can include no spaces 40 between the seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b and no alternating contouring of adjacent seats.

Referring to FIG. 7, the seats 22 a-c can include a curved front edge 46 and curved back edge 48, and the seats 24 a-b include a curved front edge 50 and curved back edge 52. The seating surfaces 32 and 34 can includes a pattern of holes 54 defined therethrough. The seating surface 32, front edge 46, and back edge 48 can be formed from a single sheet of rigid or semi rigid material, for example, 3.2 mm thick galvanized steel, which can be additionally encapsulated, for example, with a polyethylene coating. Similarly, seating surface 34, front edge 50, and back edge 52 can be formed from a single sheet of rigid or semi rigid material.

The seats 22 a-c can include end plates 56 at each left and right ends of the seating surface 32. The end plates 56 can serve to maintain the shape of the seating surface 32, front edge 46, and back edge 48. In the illustrative embodiment, the bottom edge 58 of the end plates 56 defines a curved line, for example, symmetrical to the convex curve defined by the seating surface 32.

The seats 24 a-b can include end plates 60 at each left and right ends of the seating surface 34. The end plates 60 can serve to maintain the shape of the seating surface 34, front edge 50, and back edge 52. In the illustrative embodiment, the bottom edge 62 of the end plates 60 defines a straight line.

Referring to FIG. 5, the seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b are supported by elongate supporting members 26 a-b, which are in turn supported by vertical support posts 28 a-b. The supporting members 26 a-b can be modular in design such that an number of members 26 a or 26 b can be coupled end-to-end to support a desired number of seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b. The supporting members 26 a-b can be formed from tubular galvanized steel having a 2.9 mm wall thickness and 60.2 mm diameter. End caps 59 enclose the ends of the supporting members 26 a-b, for example, HDPE caps.

The posts 28 a-c can be formed from tubular galvanized steel having a 3.25 mm wall thicknesses and 76 mm diameter. The posts 28 a-c can include a gusset and base plate assembly 60 a-c to support securing to a surface. The posts 28 a-c can also include cradles 62 a-c for receiving the elongate support members 26 a-b.

The seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b can be positioned and secured to the elongate support members 26 a-b with mounting flanges 66. For example, flanges 66 can be welded to the support members 26 a-b and the end plates 56 and 60 can be bolted or otherwise secured to the flanges 66. As best understood from FIGS. 3 and 4, the seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b can be tilted slightly toward the front edges 46 and 50 at an angle 68. The angle 68 can provided added comfort, aesthetics, and other aspects. The angle 68 can also vary such that some seats 22 a-c and 24 a-b are not angled or are angled toward the rear edges 48 and 52.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims are desired to be protected. 

1. A seating system, comprising a plurality of seats, each seat including a contoured seating surface defining a substantially singularly curved plane spanning from front to back, the curved seating surface of each adjacent seat alternatingly concave and convex.
 2. The seating system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of seats are oriented end to end along a line such that the concave or convex curve of each seating surface is substantially perpendicular to the line.
 3. The seating system of claim 2, further comprising an elongate support member, and wherein: the plurality of seats are supported by the elongate support member; and the first seat and the second seat are arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween.
 4. The seating system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of vertical posts supporting the elongate support member.
 5. The seating system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of seats further comprises a pair of end plates, the end plates coupled to the elongate support member.
 6. The seating system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of flanges coupled to the elongate support member, and wherein each end plate is coupled to one of the plurality of flanges.
 7. The seating system of claim 3, wherein the elongate support comprises one or more modular members adapted to be coupled end-to-end to provide support for additional ones of the plurality of seats.
 8. The seating system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of seats each further comprise: a front edge; and a back edge; and wherein a contoured sheet defines the front edge, back edge, and contoured seating surface.
 9. The seating system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the front edge and back edge define a single curved convex surface.
 10. The seating system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of seats further comprises a pair of end plates, the bottom edge of the end plates define a straight line.
 11. The seating system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of seats further comprises a pair of end plates, the bottom edge of the end plates define a convex curve.
 12. A seating system, comprising: an elongate support; a first seat coupled to the elongate support, the first seat defining a substantially concave upper surface, the curve defining the concave upper surface substantially perpendicular to the elongate support; and a second seat coupled to the elongate support adjacent the first seat, the second seat defining a substantially convex upper surface, the curve defining the convex upper surface along an axis substantially perpendicular to the elongate support.
 13. The seating system of claim 12, wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween.
 14. The seating system of claim 12, wherein: the first seat and second seat each further include a curved front edge to a curved rear edge; and each upper surface spans from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge.
 15. The seating system of claim 14, wherein the first seat further comprises a substantially convex lower surface spanning from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge.
 16. The seating system of claim 14, wherein the second seat further comprises a substantially planar lower surface spanning from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge.
 17. The seating system of claim 14, wherein a contoured sheet defines the front edge, back edge, and contoured seating surface.
 18. The seating system of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second seat further comprises a pair of end plates, the end plates coupled to the elongate support.
 19. The seating system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of flanges coupled to the elongate support, and wherein each end plate is coupled to one of the plurality of flanges.
 20. The seating system of claim 12, wherein the elongate support comprises one or more modular members adapted to be coupled end-to-end to provide support for additional seats.
 21. A seating system, comprising: an elongate support; a first seat coupled to the elongate support, the first seat defining an upper surface having a first median height above the elongate support; and a second seat coupled to the elongate support adjacent the first seat, the second seat defining an upper surface having a second median height above the elongate support; and wherein the first median height is greater than the second median height thereby providing an anti-skate feature.
 22. The seating system of claim 21, wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween. 